A Tale of Two Journals - Part I

Isn't she the cutest? I love this book! Absolutely LOVE it! The minute I saw this book, I wanted it. I think I would have cried if anyone else got it. But I have it and I'm so happy that I do! Maybe it's the peasant dress, and the big clunky shoes, but I sure identify with the girl on the cover. I had a dress like that, shoes like that, hair like that (well, almost like that). I was in my 20's and dancing up a storm with my friends, totally oblivious to anything that wasn't "fun".

This adorable mixed media journal was made by Yolanda Pasillas. The projects Yolie comes up with are all so unique and special that her swaps at YPP are always filled. But you need to watch Yolie's videos about this book to see how fabulous it is. To see all the goodies she's included inside. The goodies I ohhh and ahhh over every time I look at it.

I heard Yolie was thinking about opening an Etsy shop so keep an eye out for that. She makes everything with Love!

Video Part I Video Part II

28 Days of ICAD

I absolutely have to make that 30 days because I know I'm not going to make 61! My niece is flying in from Philadelphia with two of her sons, her oldest one is already here, stationed at Camp Pendleton. I won't be getting much of anything done for the next week...and I didn't!

I made it through 28 days! I wish I could have started up again but the forward momentum I had totally disappeared. I thoroughly enjoyed having my niece here though so it was worth losing a little steam. Maybe next year I'll make 61 days.

ICAD

I'm still trying to keep up with ICAD!

Gelli Plate Madness

It seems like everyone has jumped on the gelli plate bandwagon. Not that I blame them, I've seen some gorgeous stuff come off those plates! But it's too much work for me. I tend to whine if I have to reach too far for something, or learn another new trick that I'll forget before the paint is dry. I'm just trying to maintain the brain cells that I have left. I can't afford to confuse them at this stage.

Besides, if you're lucky enough to know someone who just happens to be the Gelli Plate Queen, you might end up with a sample of their beautiful work! These are envelopes with notecards that Patti Tolley Parrish sent to me, aren't they adorable? Looking at this stuff online and seeing it in person is like two different worlds. No comparison! Yesterday, I watched a video where Patti was using her gelli pad with clear tape. I was stunned with the results she got. Absolutely beautiful color!

She made me want a gelli plate.

Visit Patti's blog at Inky Obsessions

YouTube - Patti Parrish

ICAD

I mentioned in another post that I've started ICAD. It's a little thing that pops up every year from Daisy Yellow, called Index Card A Day, (ICAD - get it?) Every day for two months (2 months? holy cow!), you create art on an index card. Then you share it with all the other ICAD people on the internet at the Daisy Yellow site or Facebook page. Believe it or not, it's fun! It's amazing to see what can be created on a little 3 x 5 index card.

I thought I'd share a few here each week for your viewing pleasure.

Biting off more than I can chew

No wonder I can't get anything done! I have so much going on that I don't know what to do next. I take too many classes for one thing. I'm not finished with one when I sign up for another. And do I finish all the classes I sign up for? No. But I watch all the videos and think about all the things I'm going to do!

Christy Sobelewski has a new class that I want to take, 30 pages in 90 days. I'm ready to sign up for it, but I know I'll never finish the classes I have going on now if I do. And even though I'll have a whole year to finish Christy's class, I'll get side tracked by the other unfinished classes, and nothing will get done. I have classes in 21 Secrets to do yet, a class with Cathy Bluteau that I just started, Cotton Candy Girls which remains unfinished, a Junelle Jacobson class that I think I'm running out of time on, and against my own better judgment I started ICAD! Stop the madness!!

I can't do them all at once and I know it! Back in March, I wrote "No More Classes in 2013" in one of my journals...hahahaha. But then something happens, like I buy a cheap sewing machine and take the Remains of the Day class! Did I make a journal? No. Have I used the sewing machine....? No.

I know there are other classes. I just don't remember them at the moment.

I used to do swaps. I loved swaps. I spend too much money when I swap.

I think I'm a video addict but I can't be sure it's a real disease. I know my addiction to Facebook is real. I bought a Kindle so I could take FB with me wherever I go. It frustrates me so I don't use it much.

These are the problems I face each day. Let me tell you, retirement isn't easy.

I wonder if I still have time to sign up for Christy's class?

Inspired by AJ...

I've been a bit off for a while now and it doesn't appear that I'll be jumping back on the blog train any time soon. I'm just not into it right now, which is an awful shame, because when I AM into it...who's gonna care? One thing I've learned about blogging is that you have to keep it up in order to maintain interest, and I'm too hit and miss. So for now, I'll accept it and hope that those linked to my blog feed or networked with me, will still be there.

However! In the interim, I have a lovely friend in the UK that I would like you to meet. She lives on the Isle of Wight (if you're a Beatles fan, this is a very cool thing!) She's an artist who blogs on a regular basis and has most recently found a niche in the style of Teesha Moore! I'm so blown away by the pages she creates (and now teaches) that I'm awestruck each time I visit her blog. So get on over there and have a look-see, and leave a little love. You'll be happy you did!

AJ's Art Journal